[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 178 (Friday, November 16, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1429, IMPROVING HEAD START FOR SCHOOL 
                         READINESS ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 14, 2007

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report for 
H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start Act, and I am proud to be a 
cosponsor of H.R. 1429. I would like to thank Chairman Miller for 
producing a bipartisan product of high quality. For almost 40 years, 
Head Start has assisted low-income preschool children and their 
families, establishing a comprehensive early-learning environment and 
addressing a variety of social and medical needs. The program has 
provided services to over 20 million children and their families since 
its inception in 1965. Currently, over 900,000 children are enrolled in 
almost 2,600 local Head Start programs. Children with disabilities make 
up 10 percent of Head Start Children. However, less then 50 percent of 
eligible preschoolers are served by Head Start and 2 percent of 
eligible infants and toddlers are served in Early Head Start.
  In my district, Head Start has been a tremendous success, with over 
1,000 children enrolled in 18 programs. The majority of these children, 
about three-quarters, are from families with incomes below the Federal 
poverty line.
  Head Start's comprehensive medical and social services provide 
important benefits to these children. In my central New Jersey 
district, 91 percent of Head Start children have received basic primary 
health care and 84 percent have a continuous, accessible source of 
dental care. The program has also provided mental health services to 
over 200 children and assisted almost 150 children with disabilities.
  Today's bill provides greater flexibility to serve children whose 
family income is just above the Federal poverty line, up to 130 percent 
of the poverty line, while ensuring that serving the neediest children 
remains the program's top priority.
  The conference report authorizes total funding of $7.99 billion for 
fiscal year 2010 allowing tens of thousands more children access to the 
program. This bill addresses a number of problems that have been 
identified. For example, the bill prioritizes expansion for Early Head 
Start, which serves children from birth to age 3, so more children can 
receive Head Start during the critical development years when their 
brains are growing the fastest. The conference report ensures more 
participation of homeless children by removing barriers to their 
enrollment. The bill enhances opportunities for children with 
disabilities to participate in Head Start programs.
  I am also pleased to report that the bill continues to improve the 
already improving Head Start teacher qualifications. The bill increases 
teacher qualifications so that 50 percent of teachers nationwide must 
have a BA in early childhood education or a related field by 2013.
  Mr. Speaker, I have seen the effects of Head Start in my district. 
Children in Head Start in my district are more likely to receive 
necessary medical services than other low-income children. They are 
nearly three times as likely as other low-income children to receive 
basic medical care and six times as likely to receive dental care. This 
bill will allow these benefits to be expanded and improved. I ask my 
colleagues to vote for this important legislation.